Coronavirus prep
Options
Replies
-
Here in PA, when they went to online school about 1/3 of the kids in some districts never logged in. If they don't have a parent to push them to follow the lectures and do the work, they just fall farther and farther behind.4
-
Not all kids have access to computers or if they were lent/given one, would they necessarily have the conectivity to be part of the on line class. Not everyone can afford or even considers computers etc essential. Online learning is an answer nor necessarily a one size fits all.
If a teacher is to teach using one of the available platforms probably they could do with some support in how to connect with a bank of faces looking back at them, its so very different to teaching in a class room.5 -
Honestly, I don't know how working parents are going to cope over the next year - it was hard for my kids this spring but at least they were also all teachers and teaching from home, although running after the 4 year old was a huge challenge when both parents were scheduled to teach at the same time. I just can't see a workable solution for working parents who are likely to be called back on-site if the kids are out, or in some kind of staggered, one-week-in, one-week-out system. Incomes, habits, housing options, etc are all going to be up-ended, and we grandparents are not necessarily going to be able to step in to assist due to risk factors (and the fact that our kids would never forgive themselves if we got sick taking care of their kids). Big social upheaval in progress here in the US of A.8
-
School year will be challenging. The teachers union will want to protect the teachers. The parents want their kids back in school (or most of them do). Budgets are shot -- and that's being kind. School's will, like most state governments, be nearly bankrupt after this is all said and done. So bankrupt school districts trying to implement very expensive changes. That's a recipe for disaster.
Not to mention that kids won't social distance or comply with masks. Early on in the pandemic, I was at a Walmart. A few kids had obviously found their school friends and were running around all over. They had masks but every single time they wanted to talk, they pulled down the mask and got up in the face of their friend. Controlling Covid-19 in a school will be impossible.
New things being found in kids affected by Covid-19 every day. Interesting and challenging times for sure.8 -
cmriverside wrote: »ExistingFish wrote: »Where I live, we have a Sheriff, a Deputy, and one Patrol Officer. I don't think having them running around mandating masks is a good use of their time.
You are really letting your anxiety run away with you.
Just like there is not a Deputy at every stop sign, there is not going to be a mass LEO response to a teenager at the Rite Aid not wearing a mask.
The "enforcement" as it is will fall to retailers and businesses to not serve those who are not wearing a mask. Just like dogs aren't allowed in stores, but people bring their dogs in anyway. Smoking isn't allowed at the zoo, but people smoke anyway. I don't blame stores and businesses for not being able to control this any more than they can control someone walking out with a $40 steak.
Be realistic here. C'mon.
There is a lot to be said for Social Pressure. The more people who wear masks, the more people will be self-conscious about not wearing them. Not everyone - because sociopathy and psychopathy - but we'll have to live with that or move to a tent in the woods.
You're right about social pressure. I wear a mask to go inside the bank during business hours, but never to go to the ATM inside the entrance on evenings when the bank is closed. Yesterday evening I went with no mask, and six other customers were there - ALL wearing masks except me. I felt really stupid!!
Of course we were all safe, because their masks protected them from me, and I was completely protected from them, as their mouths and noses were covered. I probably won't do that again.9 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »gradchica27 wrote: »moonangel12 wrote: »I have heard a bunch of ideas being tossed around for school reopening - all virtual, part time (in class 2-3 days a week), alternating weeks, can’t remember some of the others.
we homeschool so it’s not a huge deal to us what they decide, but my heart breaks for the students that need the school system - for food, support, and even safety. I know there are many out there with horrendous home lives and it crushes me to think about what they are going through...
We homeschool as well, so I have no dog in this fight, but all the staggered/alternating schedule proposals seem a Logistical nightmare for working parents, teachers themselves (esp those with school age children!), and parents with multiple children in multiple schools. Yet going back as normal doesn’t seem feasible or prudent.
I can’t see how many private schools will stay afloat either—I could not justify paying full tuition for virtual classes or half the in person classes, especially for elementary students.
I already know 5 families personally who have already decided they are homeschooling this year bc of all this, leaving both private and public schools, and at least one more waiting on the final call from school system about policies to decide. The local ps here has said that special needs students who receive services/therapies at school will be going back, at least part time.
Regarding private schools, IMO if the parents chose to send their kids they should continue to support the school through tuition even if remote learning if they want the school to be there when this is over. If not they should send them to public school.
Maybe they should but paying 30 grand for the 20-21 school year for me means the kids should be on campus. The level of education that they get online is not comparable and that is a ton of money for them to sit in their bedroom and get a lesser education (though still better than the local public school probably).1 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
Enforcement doesn't have to take the form of immediate physical restraint , tasering, and/or arrest. It can be in the form of consequences, such as "no-shop" lists like the "no-fly" lists airlines are saying they'll use for customers who won't wear masks. "No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service."
How do you keep and track a "no shop list" for a Wal-Mart Supercenter, large grocery store, etc? Does the greeter ask everyone for an ID when they come to the entrance then check it to a database?
A no-shop list doesn't have to be based on discrimination. It could be based on qualification. You're disqualified at the door if you don't meet the requirements. No database needed for that. No mask - no entry.
Yep, this one is pretty simple.
For the actual "no shop lists," I am not sure if any stores have facial recognition software in their security systems. But even when they don't, I know that security often reviews photos regularly enoigh that people are often noticed. Not sure how that works for Wal-Mart with multiple locations and huge amounts of people. Maybe they look at just photos from that store or region? I do know that I've heard of people getting arrested (for trespassing) when returning after being told they were banned.
It has been a few years, but similar thing with casinos. Back when I was in Iowa, I know of at least one casino that interfaced their systems with the county sheriff to identify based on membership cards. So even if they let yoi through at the door (you look old enough and they didn't scan your ID), if you sit down at a slot machine and put your card in, they know you are there. And if you have any warrants, it doesn't take long for the cops to show up. This is in addition to that even if you don't have warrants, anyone banned by the casino seems to be caught often. I had a friend whose wife got talked into putting herself on the banned list voluntarily at one casino (this is usually for people who are trying to overcome addiction). Without fail, she was noticed every single time she tried. After getting arrested 3 times, she gave up with that casino.
I'm finding it surprising that people have acted as if "no-shop lists" from stores are a new thing, when they've been around in one form or another for decades. As I haven't ever worked in retail, I'm appreciating your insights about how it works in practice: Interesting.4 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »gradchica27 wrote: »moonangel12 wrote: »I have heard a bunch of ideas being tossed around for school reopening - all virtual, part time (in class 2-3 days a week), alternating weeks, can’t remember some of the others.
we homeschool so it’s not a huge deal to us what they decide, but my heart breaks for the students that need the school system - for food, support, and even safety. I know there are many out there with horrendous home lives and it crushes me to think about what they are going through...
We homeschool as well, so I have no dog in this fight, but all the staggered/alternating schedule proposals seem a Logistical nightmare for working parents, teachers themselves (esp those with school age children!), and parents with multiple children in multiple schools. Yet going back as normal doesn’t seem feasible or prudent.
I can’t see how many private schools will stay afloat either—I could not justify paying full tuition for virtual classes or half the in person classes, especially for elementary students.
I already know 5 families personally who have already decided they are homeschooling this year bc of all this, leaving both private and public schools, and at least one more waiting on the final call from school system about policies to decide. The local ps here has said that special needs students who receive services/therapies at school will be going back, at least part time.
Regarding private schools, IMO if the parents chose to send their kids they should continue to support the school through tuition even if remote learning if they want the school to be there when this is over. If not they should send them to public school.
Maybe they should but paying 30 grand for the 20-21 school year for me means the kids should be on campus. The level of education that they get online is not comparable and that is a ton of money for them to sit in their bedroom and get a lesser education (though still better than the local public school probably).
Then the parents should just pull them and homeschool or send to public school. They apparently thought the school was better, if they don't support it, it will be gone post-virus.
Should people be giving less to their places of worship because an on-line experience isn't as good as live?
I think there's a large difference between a school and a place of worship.
Taking away the social aspects of a physical school-sports, extracurriculars, band, choir, things that just don't translate well to an online environment which is a large part of why people send their kids yo a private school plus the fact that many kids can't learn as easily online makes me think schools should open. Sure if you want to keep your kid home and still pay thats great but the rest of us should get what we are paying for.
Plus you sign contracts in the spring for the next school year so its not always an option to change at this point.2 -
This is a perspective to share with younger folks who may be feeling that a Covid infection is minor, for someone young and healthy. It's from a young woman I know, a US national team rower - literally in the top handful of women in the world in her sport, a multi-gold-medalist at World Championships, and a gold medalist in the Rio Olympics. It describes her Covid experience.
https://www.facebook.com/emily.regan3/posts/10117636727428674
(With apologies, it's on Facebook, but it's public and does appear to be viewable in a browser without a Facebook account - you may have to click "not now" when asked to sign up/in).
Some key quotes (not willing to cut/paste the whole, since it's public.)Friday April 3rd was a completely different story. I slept over 12 hours that night and when I woke up it was painful to breathe and my entire body ached like I had done something really wrong while I was practicing the day before. That day my fever ranged from about 100.4-101.7. I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without needing to sit down and take a nap. Not only did I sleep for 12 hours that night, but I also took a 3 hour nap. I was too weak to make myself food that entire day until I forced myself to make pancakes that night because I knew I had to eat something.When I first started trying to work out again I tried doing a 30 minute jog. My heart rate was really high and I felt like I was running through water. The jog was meant to be light and a small attempt to get my body moving again, but it was so difficult I had to stop after 20 minutes. I am used to doing workouts that range from 80-120 minutes. I don't give up easily and I was just near my peak closing in on final selection for the Olympics. Now I couldn't even jog/walk for 30 minutes.While it only 🙄 took me a month to feel like I was in my own body again, I have teammates who were dealing with complications from COVID for over 2 months.
So if you don't think the virus is that big of a deal because you are young, healthy, or fit, please consider my story. My guess is that my teammates and I are at a minimum healthier and fitter than most of you and it knocked many of us down hard. I have personally never experienced any other illness like this. I have never been knocked off of my feet for an entire month before.
This is clearly not someone who's a frail flower, weak, wimpy, whiny, low pain threshold, or anything like that. Strong, healthy, clean-living, focused on her sport, mega-tough.16 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »The Tuscaloosa Alabama story -- students having Covid-19 parties, with a known infected person, putting money into a pot and the first one to officially "get it" gets the money -- makes me believe that we are the dumbest country in history. Sorry, there's no other way to look at it.
Went out to another outdoor concert last night, much better band this time. AZ rates are soaring. Only states worse are TX and CA, where my kids live! We went out again last night to eat and ate on a patio again.
I've resigned myself that there is no "back to normal" unless they find a vaccine for this. Or it could mutate so much that it won't be nearly as deadly. But once school is back in session, in the Fall, which I think is a terrible idea BTW, 1.5M dead doesn't seem too outrageous now. Perhaps 2M. The numbers don't lie. 5% have been infected and 130K dead. Multiply X 13. That's the point at which they say we will have herd immunity.
Our response as a country has been a pathetic combination of finger pointing, selfishness and incompetence.
Yep.
My sister lives in Houston, and I'm here in northeast TN, which is itchin' to catch up to TX. We have in this country a large population of entitled, uncaring, thoughtless, brats of widely varying ages. I have friends (30s & 40s), inlaws (60s), a 19-year-old sister-in-law, aunts and uncles (50s-70s) who are being so belligerent, selfish and ignorant. They are proof that unfortunately we can't just blame the lack of leadership of our government. Though they have certainly contributed greatly.
Totally agree. We need a national mask law with steep penalties. And strict enforcement.
With no or reduced funding for enforcement in the USA who's going to be the enforcement ?
Enforcement doesn't have to take the form of immediate physical restraint , tasering, and/or arrest. It can be in the form of consequences, such as "no-shop" lists like the "no-fly" lists airlines are saying they'll use for customers who won't wear masks. "No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service."
How do you keep and track a "no shop list" for a Wal-Mart Supercenter, large grocery store, etc? Does the greeter ask everyone for an ID when they come to the entrance then check it to a database?
A no-shop list doesn't have to be based on discrimination. It could be based on qualification. You're disqualified at the door if you don't meet the requirements. No database needed for that. No mask - no entry.
Yep, this one is pretty simple.
For the actual "no shop lists," I am not sure if any stores have facial recognition software in their security systems. But even when they don't, I know that security often reviews photos regularly enoigh that people are often noticed. Not sure how that works for Wal-Mart with multiple locations and huge amounts of people. Maybe they look at just photos from that store or region? I do know that I've heard of people getting arrested (for trespassing) when returning after being told they were banned.
It has been a few years, but similar thing with casinos. Back when I was in Iowa, I know of at least one casino that interfaced their systems with the county sheriff to identify based on membership cards. So even if they let yoi through at the door (you look old enough and they didn't scan your ID), if you sit down at a slot machine and put your card in, they know you are there. And if you have any warrants, it doesn't take long for the cops to show up. This is in addition to that even if you don't have warrants, anyone banned by the casino seems to be caught often. I had a friend whose wife got talked into putting herself on the banned list voluntarily at one casino (this is usually for people who are trying to overcome addiction). Without fail, she was noticed every single time she tried. After getting arrested 3 times, she gave up with that casino.
I'm finding it surprising that people have acted as if "no-shop lists" from stores are a new thing, when they've been around in one form or another for decades. As I haven't ever worked in retail, I'm appreciating your insights about how it works in practice: Interesting.
I just worked in retail for a big box store a very long time ago. So nothing I know first-hand is current. This was from 2004-2007. Then, I know for a fact that they didn't have facial recognition software, but the security people reviewed photos and recognized faces. Now, I bet they have some better software. But even then, they had cameras everywhere. They also had fake shoppers at that time, probably still do. These are people who act like fellow customers, walk around "shopping," and observe / identify shoplifters. If that person notices something, no need for them to follow and be identified because there are cameras everywhere.5 -
corinasue1143 wrote: »I just went to 7-11 to get tea. Only me, one clerk at the cash register with mask on, one clerk with no mask, no gloves, wiping counters beside the tea, in the store.
The clerk wiping counters was talking on her phone. She said something like, “I don’t have a temperature and I don’t feel sick at all. And I’m not around her much at all. I was over there for a while yesterday.”
That’s all I heard as I was backing away from her and getting the h—- out of there.
At 7-11.
How many customers during her shift?
This is crazy. She was exposed and chose to be at work as usual. Most likely an hourly rate job with no pay if they're no hours on the clock. So she'll definitely not tell her boss she needs to stay home voluntarily for a little while.3 -
moonangel12 wrote: »we homeschool so it’s not a huge deal to us what they decide, but my heart breaks for the students that need the school system - for food, support, and even safety. I know there are many out there with horrendous home lives and it crushes me to think about what they are going through...
For food, at least, I know Chicago schools have been providing it throughout the time schools have been shut down (they normally do in summers too) -- breakfast and lunch, for pick-up, for 3 days at a time.
It's certainly tough on parents who rely on schools for part of their child care.5 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »Here in PA, when they went to online school about 1/3 of the kids in some districts never logged in. If they don't have a parent to push them to follow the lectures and do the work, they just fall farther and farther behind.
Yeah, this is a big problem across the country, I think.1 -
gradchica27 wrote: »moonangel12 wrote: »I have heard a bunch of ideas being tossed around for school reopening - all virtual, part time (in class 2-3 days a week), alternating weeks, can’t remember some of the others.
we homeschool so it’s not a huge deal to us what they decide, but my heart breaks for the students that need the school system - for food, support, and even safety. I know there are many out there with horrendous home lives and it crushes me to think about what they are going through...
We homeschool as well, so I have no dog in this fight, but all the staggered/alternating schedule proposals seem a Logistical nightmare for working parents, teachers themselves (esp those with school age children!), and parents with multiple children in multiple schools. Yet going back as normal doesn’t seem feasible or prudent.
I can’t see how many private schools will stay afloat either—I could not justify paying full tuition for virtual classes or half the in person classes, especially for elementary students.
I already know 5 families personally who have already decided they are homeschooling this year bc of all this, leaving both private and public schools, and at least one more waiting on the final call from school system about policies to decide. The local ps here has said that special needs students who receive services/therapies at school will be going back, at least part time.
Home schooling is not an option for most parents for many reasons. Taking a bread winner out of the work place can be expensive and the home schooling mental/emotional toll can be huge. We are told millions of homes will be going into foreclosure and even vehicles. Kids often suffers the most when society starts collapsing for any reason and we are being told by Bill Gates and others that pandemic after pandemic can be expected every 10-20 years going forward.
UK has 13 colleges in danger of failing due to locking their doors was in the news the other day. Many restaurants are closing because of social distancing rules. Millions world wide are unemployed and many have no company left to return to some day. Today's news that MFP is up for sale by UA is an in our face fact after paying nearly half a billion for it like 5 years ago that the go go years are taking leave for more and more kids and their families.
My hat is off to people who can do the homeschooling successful. We read how home schooled kids typically do better with the college experience thing. I expect you are correct about more families home schooling going forward since it has become more common for years in the areas where the public school systems have been at risk for years.
Coronavirus prep is turning into more than a toilet paper and food problem. It has wrecked retirement plans and the financial stability of many children already and is expected to impact generations going forward due to side effects appearing today.
The are no simple solutions and yes the toll on the kids is a hard thing to witness and wait for someone to become creative on behalf of the kids of the world.
3 -
The threat to withhold federal school dollars to states that do not open schools must be having an impact.
2 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »Here in PA, when they went to online school about 1/3 of the kids in some districts never logged in. If they don't have a parent to push them to follow the lectures and do the work, they just fall farther and farther behind.
I know a teacher locally that was talking about that problem and that some who did log in never responded to activities. Kids have for the most part have fallen backwards. At the college level more and more seem to just be dropping out with no real plan to return. In one case they only lacked a few hours to graduate but like that hope of getting a job is now GONE. Some people do not seem to understand the virus is the lesser of the two evils we are facing today. I hope Columbus' head now in the Boston Bay can find some of the tea that other ticked off protesters dumped into that bay many years ago.
Times are not changing. Time HAS changed and yesteryear is gone for good. I know one guy that has liquidated many things just to get debt free. This was an effort he started 18 months ago before so many started dumping larger ticket items. More and more yards have vehicles and other items out for sale locally.
Local schools and colleges are planning to open in my end of KY.1 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »
The threat to withhold federal school dollars to states that do not open schools must be having an impact.
Most states get less that 10% of K-12 funding from tbe federal government. A chunk but not a deal breaker if a state wants to be at odds with the POTUS.
I do not think you were aware of the financial status of many school districts prior to the COVID-19 shut down. Payroll tax collections are way down and expenses to start funding remote learning on a 12 hour notice messed up some budgets. With no medical hope of a cure or vaccine near term what is one to do? The bright spot is while the number of cases are climbing the death rate is really dropping. Maybe it will weaken and just be another annual type of flu in 2021.1 -
Our WI county is in a "surge" now and spouse and I have basically been going out only for essential stuff since early March. But one of his ball playing friends (in the demographic hardest hit by infection, who has not been social distancing as far as I know) is getting married this month and wants him there ... indoor wedding at a tiny place with (he says) a dozen or so people there, also from "surge" communities. He says he's going, despite the fact that within the last 4 months he's had a mild stroke & a pacemaker implanted. I voiced my opinion fairly reasonably (I thought) and his response was, well you don't have to come along. He's a 73 year old mule.
Would this help? (Wedding is in the top left of High Risk.)
7 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Our WI county is in a "surge" now and spouse and I have basically been going out only for essential stuff since early March. But one of his ball playing friends (in the demographic hardest hit by infection, who has not been social distancing as far as I know) is getting married this month and wants him there ... indoor wedding at a tiny place with (he says) a dozen or so people there, also from "surge" communities. He says he's going, despite the fact that within the last 4 months he's had a mild stroke & a pacemaker implanted. I voiced my opinion fairly reasonably (I thought) and his response was, well you don't have to come along. He's a 73 year old mule.
Would this help? (Wedding is in the top left of High Risk.)
Interesting the risk of going to church or a bar is about equal but both are about socializing with like minded friends I guess.
1 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »
The threat to withhold federal school dollars to states that do not open schools must be having an impact.
Most states get less that 10% of K-12 funding from tbe federal government. A chunk but not a deal breaker if a state wants to be at odds with the POTUS.
Also the President can't withhold federal funding, Congress distributes tax dollars. He can certainly pressure Congress to pass a bill that incentivizes full reopening rather than miss out on fed funding, but the teachers' lobby is pretty powerful too.12 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »https://thefederalist.com/2020/07/06/cdc-after-10-week-decline-in-covid-19-deaths-it-may-soon-no-longer-be-an-epidemic/
I am starting to see why some may think this pandemic is going away based on headlines like the above.
Clearly death numbers lag the infection rate by 2+ weeks so while it may be factual COVID-19 death rates may be in decline but we know in the USA at least the infection rate is higher than ever in this 2020 Pandemic so we can expect death rates to soar instead of decline.
A lot depends on where you are. If you follow the Coronavirus world chart, you'll see some places stopped having deaths altogether, while others are having very few, even while still having some new cases of infection.
Increased knowledge and increased access to the necessary equipment and facilities, has led to a scenario where a larger percentage of sufferers are making a full recovery.2 -
My friend suggested no one pays tax this year if they owe any. I can actually see his point and generally I wouldn’t, but with a recession and people out of work it kinda makes sense. In other news they’re looking at moving the border further up near my town in NSW which would mean major long waits trying to get my mother to treatment.1
-
In our area the bus drivers were running their regular routes delivering food and switching out homework packets... until staff started getting sick, then they shut it downmoonangel12 wrote: »we homeschool so it’s not a huge deal to us what they decide, but my heart breaks for the students that need the school system - for food, support, and even safety. I know there are many out there with horrendous home lives and it crushes me to think about what they are going through...
For food, at least, I know Chicago schools have been providing it throughout the time schools have been shut down (they normally do in summers too) -- breakfast and lunch, for pick-up, for 3 days at a time.
It's certainly tough on parents who rely on schools for part of their child care.
8 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Our WI county is in a "surge" now and spouse and I have basically been going out only for essential stuff since early March. But one of his ball playing friends (in the demographic hardest hit by infection, who has not been social distancing as far as I know) is getting married this month and wants him there ... indoor wedding at a tiny place with (he says) a dozen or so people there, also from "surge" communities. He says he's going, despite the fact that within the last 4 months he's had a mild stroke & a pacemaker implanted. I voiced my opinion fairly reasonably (I thought) and his response was, well you don't have to come along. He's a 73 year old mule.
Would this help? (Wedding is in the top left of High Risk.)
Well, thanks I don't know if it would or not but I'm going to drop it into his inbox. 4 -
Is anyone else afraid about the possibility of schools reopening??
All my kids are way over that age but my dh works at a private high school and they usually have about 150-200 dorm students each year, from everywhere. I know it's still about 6 weeks away from now but Honestly, I don't foresee a better environment anytime soon. I just think of all the little kids and worried parents who will have to deal with this. I know the world is aching to get back to 'normal' but at the price of subjecting the children?
I was thinking about this the other day, and I think what's needed is something radical: much reduced class sizes, especially for younger kids who can't be expected to understand the need to wear masks and to maintain their distance. Which means we need more classroom spaces and more teachers. Space could be rented from facilities that can't open yet anyway -- like movie theaters. performing arts centers, indoor sporting venues. Teachers -- or at least adult supervision -- could be drawn from the ranks of the 10% of Americans who are unemployed, maybe with some online/video support from actual older or immuno-compromised teachers.
ETA: another part of my imaginary radical scenario was going back to mini "one-room schoolhouses" -- not as individual buildings, but classrooms that might have kids of different ages, maybe mixing three families of kids (to limit the number of potential interfamily disease transmissions, if that makes sense). Obviously with the smaller average sizes of family these might not work as well as it would have decades ago (I think the average family size on the block I grew up on was about 3.5). You might have to go four families depending on how large the hypothetical reduced class sizes would be -- I was picturing between five and 10 kids.
I don't see how we can go back to normal-sized classes of 20+ kids, circulating around schools to music rooms and art rooms with different instructors (or changing rooms and teachers for every class with older kids). There would be exploding hot spots everywhere.7 -
CupcakeCrusoe wrote: »RE: Schools reopening:
In VA, we've been talking about reopening schools, but their requirements are, to be frank, ridiculous and impossible. They've set standards for 6 feet between children, or at least three feet with masks. Staggering seats on the bus and sitting 1 person to a seat.
Do they have any concept of what these requirements would look like, logistically? They'd have to have so many more school busses, to keep kids in school on time. Not to mention a ton of extra space in the schools themselves, with a nonexistent budget for any of it.
Either they're putting these requirements out with the knowledge that they're not going to be able to be enforced, to wash their hands of the fact that they won't be enforced, or they'll make the smart decision and not open schools, citing these requirements.
SMH.
ETA: I suppose they could stagger kids going to school, like a 1 or 2 day a week model, much reduced number of kids that way.
Yes, I think that last sentence is what the plan is. At least some Virginia school districts are also offering parents the option to continue full-time remote learning at home, so that would cut down the number of buses. But, yeah, until they know how many parents choose that option, they can't really project whether the other logistics will work. And if they need more buses, I'm wondering how fast a country that can't keep up with the need for PPE will be able to turn out additional buses. I guess there are enough people out of work that finding bus drivers might not be an insuperable problem -- except you need a special class of driver's license, and I don't know if DMVs are doing drivers' exams now? Where the DMV employee and the person wanting the license have to get in the same car and breath the same air while the tester speaks the instructions?0 -
moonangel12 wrote: »I have heard a bunch of ideas being tossed around for school reopening - all virtual, part time (in class 2-3 days a week), alternating weeks, can’t remember some of the others.
we homeschool so it’s not a huge deal to us what they decide, but my heart breaks for the students that need the school system - for food, support, and even safety. I know there are many out there with horrendous home lives and it crushes me to think about what they are going through...
This is true, but it's also pretty crushing that in the U.S. our response as a society to horrendous home lives for children is that they get a six to eight hour respite at school. Hey, you don't have to worry about anyone hitting you or putting out cigarettes on your skin for the six to eight hours you're at school. That's something, right?
No, I don't know what the answer is, but it's still the thought that goes through my mind when the American Pediatrics Association talks about how important school is to make sure kids have adequate nutrition and time away from bad home conditions. Like, would it be too much to ensure that they can get a decent meal when they go home? Doesn't the APA also talk about how important families sitting down together for a meal is?
I'm happy to give money to food banks and other organizations that support these needs, but I find it depressing that it's necessary in "the richest and greatest country in the world" as we like to tell ourselves. And I imagine it's depressing for folks who have to turn to food banks, however glad they might be for the groceries.10 -
Is anyone else afraid about the possibility of schools reopening??
All my kids are way over that age but my dh works at a private high school and they usually have about 150-200 dorm students each year, from everywhere. I know it's still about 6 weeks away from now but Honestly, I don't foresee a better environment anytime soon. I just think of all the little kids and worried parents who will have to deal with this. I know the world is aching to get back to 'normal' but at the price of subjecting the children?
I have to say that I am hoping and praying my kids go back to school in a few weeks. They attend a private high school, that while they did the absolute best they could in the circumstances, that did not provide the high level of education that I have come to expect. They are set up for some online learning but not a fully online program. I can understand that some teachers might be reluctant, but many kids need that inperson attention and they can't get that through a screen. I know my kids each struggled in a couple classes because they just weren't able to learn the subject online (math for one, latin for another). They aren't/can't repeat these years and they need this education to move forward. How will we ever catch up the kids that don't have involved parents or parents that don't have the time to help their kids? We are failing the kids if we insist on online only.
Plus what about the kids who rely on the school for breakfast/lunch? For catching cases of abuse or neglect? Or just the fact that they are kids and NEED that social interaction. I'm not sure what the answer really is, but I don't think it's keeping the kids at home for another semester or year.
I can't help but think that if schools did such a good job of catching cases of abuse or neglect, there wouldn't be many such situations ongoing as kids entered #stayhome. But maybe I'm just depressed by what feels like the endless cycle of bad news wherever I turn.
4 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »Here in PA, when they went to online school about 1/3 of the kids in some districts never logged in. If they don't have a parent to push them to follow the lectures and do the work, they just fall farther and farther behind.
Or they may just not have Internet access at home. Did the school districts supply them with mobile hotspots?3 -
cmriverside wrote: »ExistingFish wrote: »Where I live, we have a Sheriff, a Deputy, and one Patrol Officer. I don't think having them running around mandating masks is a good use of their time.
You are really letting your anxiety run away with you.
Just like there is not a Deputy at every stop sign, there is not going to be a mass LEO response to a teenager at the Rite Aid not wearing a mask.
The "enforcement" as it is will fall to retailers and businesses to not serve those who are not wearing a mask. Just like dogs aren't allowed in stores, but people bring their dogs in anyway. Smoking isn't allowed at the zoo, but people smoke anyway. I don't blame stores and businesses for not being able to control this any more than they can control someone walking out with a $40 steak.
Be realistic here. C'mon.
There is a lot to be said for Social Pressure. The more people who wear masks, the more people will be self-conscious about not wearing them. Not everyone - because sociopathy and psychopathy - but we'll have to live with that or move to a tent in the woods.
You're right about social pressure. I wear a mask to go inside the bank during business hours, but never to go to the ATM inside the entrance on evenings when the bank is closed. Yesterday evening I went with no mask, and six other customers were there - ALL wearing masks except me. I felt really stupid!!
Of course we were all safe, because their masks protected them from me, and I was completely protected from them, as their mouths and noses were covered. I probably won't do that again.
Well, no, unless they were wearing N-95s to go to the ATM, their masks protected you, but not them. By the time any hypothetical virus droplets you were hypothetically exhaling got to their faces, the droplets would have broken down into smaller droplets that are more likely to penetrate their masks, whereas the droplets in their exhalations wouldn't have had time to break down before hitting the masks covering their noses and mouths. My mask protects you; your mask protects me.9
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 396.8K Introduce Yourself
- 44.2K Getting Started
- 260.9K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.3K Food and Nutrition
- 47.6K Recipes
- 232.8K Fitness and Exercise
- 450 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.7K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.3K Motivation and Support
- 8.3K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.5K Chit-Chat
- 2.6K Fun and Games
- 4.5K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 18 MyFitnessPal Academy
- 1.4K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 3.1K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions